Vertical josephson junction superconducting device

ABSTRACT

Techniques for a vertical Josephson junction superconducting device are provided. In one embodiment, a chip surface base device structure is provided that comprises a substrate comprising crystalline silicon that is coupled with a first superconducting layer, wherein the first superconducting layer is coupled with a second substrate comprising crystalline silicon. In one implementation, the chip surface base device structure also comprises a vertical Josephson junction located in an etched region of the substrate, the vertical Josephson junction comprising a first superconducting layer, a tunnel barrier layer, and a top superconducting layer.

BACKGROUND

The subject disclosure relates to superconducting devices, and morespecifically, to fabricating a vertical Josephson junctionsuperconducting device using a silicon-on-metal (SOM) substrate.

Quantum computing is generally the use of quantum-mechanical phenomenafor the purpose of performing computing and information processingfunctions. Quantum computing can be viewed in contrast to classicalcomputing, which generally operates on binary values with transistors.That is, while classical computers can operate on bit values that areeither 0 or 1, quantum computers operate on quantum bits that comprisesuperpositions of both 0 and 1, can entangle multiple quantum bits, anduse interference to obtain computational results.

Quantum computing hardware can be different from classical computinghardware. In particular, superconducting quantum circuits generally relyon Josephson junctions, which can be fabricated in a semiconductordevice. A Josephson junction generally manifests the Josephson effect ofa supercurrent, where current can flow indefinitely across a Josephsonjunction without an applied voltage. A Josephson junction can be createdby weakly coupling two superconductors (a material that conductselectricity without resistance), for example, by a tunnel barrier asdescribed below.

Some prior art Josephson junctions can be implemented using shadowevaporation. A problem with fabricating prior art Josephson junctionsusing shadow evaporation can be that this approach is not scalable,because shadow evaporation can produce non-uniform results on largersubstrates, such as 200 mm or 300 mm wafers. Josephson junctionsimplemented via shadow evaporation can have high variability of thesupercurrent. Josephson junctions implemented via shadow evaporation canbe made with a lift-off process, which, in turn, can cause flares at theedges of a remaining superconducting layer, can allow for one or morefloating superconducting islands to be formed near a Josephson junction(where using undercut in resist, or hard mask, profile); and can havesome junction variability (which causes variability of the criticalcurrent) caused by undercut and small misalignments in tiltedevaporation. Additionally, a problem with shadow evaporation is that anumber of choices for both materials and deposition approaches can belimited.

There are also Josephson junctions used in single flux quantum (SFQ)computing, which can be vertical, but can have a problem of having anassociated loss beyond what is suitable for quantum computing. Thisassociated loss with a SFQ junction can include both loss due tosurrounding dielectrics with insufficient loss tangent, and loss intunnel barrier. Additionally, a SFQ junction generally has a larger areathan a quantum bit (qubit) junction.

SUMMARY

The following presents a summary to provide a basic understanding of oneor more embodiments of the invention. This summary is not intended toidentify key or critical elements, or delineate any scope of theparticular embodiments or any scope of the claims. Its sole purpose isto present concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the moredetailed description that is presented later. In one or more embodimentsdescribed herein, devices, systems, chip surface base device structures,computer-implemented methods, apparatus and/or computer program productsthat facilitate vertical Josephson junction superconducting devices aredescribed.

According to an embodiment, a chip surface base device structure isprovided. In one example, the chip surface base device structurecomprises a substrate comprising crystalline silicon that is physicallycoupled with a first superconducting layer, wherein the firstsuperconducting layer is physically coupled with a second substratecomprising crystalline silicon. In one or more implementations, the chipsurface base device structure can further comprise a vertical Josephsonjunction located in an etched region of the substrate, the verticalJosephson junction comprising the first superconducting layer, a tunnelbarrier layer, and a top superconducting layer. An advantage of such achip surface base device structure can be that the structure containsvertical Josephson junctions that are more uniform than Josephsonjunctions from previous techniques.

In some examples, the tunnel barrier layer is located on at least one ofthe first superconducting layer, or a second superconducting layer thatis coupled with the first superconducting layer. An advantage ofdepositing the tunnel barrier layer in this manner can be that such achip surface base device structure is more reproducible than a chipsurface base device structure with a differently positioned tunnelbarrier layer.

In another embodiment, a method is provided. In one example, the methodcomprises physically coupling a substrate comprising crystalline siliconwith a first superconducting layer. The method can further comprisephysically coupling the first superconducting layer with a secondsubstrate comprising crystalline silicon. The method can furthercomprise etching the substrate. The method can further comprise forminga vertical Josephson junction in the etching of the substrate, thevertical Josephson junction comprising the first superconducting layer,a tunnel barrier layer, and a top superconducting layer. An advantage ofsuch a method can be that it can be used to fabricate vertical Josephsonjunctions that are more uniform than Josephson junctions fabricated fromprevious techniques.

In some examples, the method further comprises depositing a secondsuperconducting layer between the first superconducting layer and thetunnel barrier layer. An advantage of depositing the secondsuperconducting layer in this manner can be that a height of the secondsuperconducting layer can be used to set a height of the tunnel baselayer in the via.

In another embodiment, a chip surface base device structure is provided.In one example, the chip surface base device structure comprises a firstportion of a superconducting layer that is bonded with a second portionof the superconducting layer, the first portion of the superconductinglayer being physically coupled to a substrate, and the second portion ofthe superconducting layer being physically coupled to a secondsubstrate. In one or more implementations, the chip surface base devicestructure can further comprise a vertical Josephson junction located inan etched region of the substrate, the vertical Josephson junctioncomprising a tunnel barrier layer and a top superconducting layer. Anadvantage of such a chip surface base device structure can be that itcontains vertical Josephson junctions that are more uniform thanJosephson junctions from previous techniques.

In some examples, the tunnel barrier layer is formed on thesuperconducting layer. An advantage of forming the tunnel barrier layeron the first superconducting layer can be that such a chip surface basedevice structure is more reproducible than a chip surface base devicestructure with a differently positioned tunnel barrier layer.

In another embodiment, a method is provided. In one example, the methodcomprises bonding a first portion of a superconducting layer that isphysically coupled to a crystalline silicon substrate with a secondportion of the superconducting layer that is physically coupled with asecond crystalline silicon substrate, the crystalline silicon substrate,the superconducting layer, and the second crystalline silicon substratecomprising a silicon-on-metal (SOM) base. The method can furthercomprise forming a vertical Josephson junction in an etching of thecrystalline silicon substrate, the vertical Josephson junctioncomprising the superconducting layer, a tunnel barrier layer, and asecond superconducting layer. An advantage of such a method can be thatit can be used to fabricate vertical Josephson junctions that are moreuniform than Josephson junctions fabricated from previous techniques.

In another embodiment, a chip surface base device structure is provided.In one example, the chip surface base device structure comprises asubstrate comprising crystalline silicon that is physically coupled witha first superconducting layer, wherein the first superconducting layeris physically coupled with a second substrate comprising crystallinesilicon; and a vertical Josephson junction that is formed in an etchingof the substrate. An advantage of such a chip surface base devicestructure can be that it contains vertical Josephson junctions that aremore uniform than Josephson junctions from previous techniques.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an example, non-limiting chip surface base devicestructure in accordance with one or more embodiments described herein.

FIG. 2 illustrates the example, non-limiting chip surface base devicestructure of FIG. 1 after creation of a via in accordance with one ormore embodiments described herein.

FIG. 3 illustrates the example, non-limiting chip surface base devicestructure of FIG. 2 after depositing a tunnel barrier layer inaccordance with one or more embodiments described herein.

FIG. 4 illustrates the example, non-limiting chip surface base devicestructure of FIG. 2 after depositing a second superconductor inaccordance with one or more embodiments described herein.

FIG. 5 illustrates the example, non-limiting chip surface base devicestructure of FIG. 4 after depositing a tunnel barrier layer inaccordance with one or more embodiments described herein.

FIG. 6 illustrates the example, non-limiting chip surface base devicestructure of FIG. 5 after depositing another superconducting layer,which is thicker than the initial height of the via in accordance withone or more embodiments described herein.

FIG. 7 illustrates the example, non-limiting chip surface base devicestructure of FIG. 5 after depositing another superconducting layer,which is thinner than the initial height of the via in accordance withone or more embodiments described herein.

FIG. 8 illustrates the example, non-limiting chip surface base devicestructure of FIG. 6 after removing material down to the top tunnelbarrier layer in accordance with one or more embodiments describedherein.

FIG. 9 illustrates the example, non-limiting chip surface base devicestructure of FIG. 8 after removing the top tunnel barrier layer inaccordance with one or more embodiments described herein.

FIG. 10 illustrates the example, non-limiting chip surface base devicestructure of FIG. 6 or FIG. 7 after removing material down to the topsubstrate layer in accordance with one or more embodiments describedherein.

FIG. 11 illustrates the example, non-limiting chip surface base devicestructure of FIG. 10 after depositing another superconducting layer inaccordance with one or more embodiments described herein.

FIG. 12 illustrates a flow diagram of an example, non-limitingcomputer-implemented method that facilitates implementing a verticalJosephson junction superconducting device in accordance with one or moreembodiments described herein.

FIG. 13 illustrates another flow diagram of an example, non-limitingcomputer-implemented method that facilitates implementing a verticalJosephson junction superconducting device in accordance with one or moreembodiments described herein.

FIG. 14 illustrates a block diagram of an example, non-limitingoperating environment in which one or more embodiments described hereincan be facilitated.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description is merely illustrative and is notintended to limit embodiments and/or application or uses of embodiments.Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed orimplied information presented in the preceding Background or Summarysections, or in the Detailed Description section.

One or more embodiments are now described with reference to thedrawings, wherein like referenced numerals are used to refer to likeelements throughout. In the following description, for purposes ofexplanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to providea more thorough understanding of the one or more embodiments. It isevident, however, in various cases, that the one or more embodiments canbe practiced without these specific details.

Given the above problems with common implementations of Josephsonjunctions, the present disclosure can be implemented to produce avertical Josephson junction computing device that provides a solution toone or more of those problems. Such a vertical Josephson junctioncomputing device can have an advantage of improved scaling because of areduced footprint relative to that of a non-vertical Josephson junctiondevice. Such a vertical Josephson junction computing device can alsohave an advantage of providing more choices in both materials anddeposition methods relative to a number of choices for a shadowevaporated overlap Josephson junction. Such a vertical Josephsonjunction computing device can have an advantage of fabrication scalingbecause the device is compatible with chip manufacturing approaches.Additionally, such a vertical Josephson junction computing device canhave an advantage of being embedded in a very low loss environment.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example, non-limiting chip surface base devicestructure in accordance with one or more embodiments described herein.As depicted, chip surface base device structure 100 comprises substrate102, superconductor 104, and substrate 106. A chip surface base devicestructure can sometimes be referred to as a chip surface base devicestructure. Chip surface base device structure 100 can be considered tobe a buried metal flow, where the metal is a superconducting material.Then, the top substrate layer—substrate 106—can be ground to a thicknessof approximately 100-200 nm, either before or after substrate 106,superconductor 104, and substrate 102 are physically coupled together(as opposed to an electrical coupling, such as between two capacitiveplates). In some examples, superconductor 104 can be titanium (Ti),tantalum (Ta), tungsten (W), or titanium nitride (TiN).

In some examples, substrate 102 and substrate 106 can have initialthicknesses of approximately 500 micrometers (μm) to 800 μm. Then, insome examples, the various materials used can be used in temperatures upto approximately 500 degrees Celsius (C). In some examples, materialswith lower melting points, such as aluminum (Al) can be used, and thesematerials can begin to deform at approximately 300 C.

In some examples, one or both of substrate 102 and substrate 106 can becrystalline silicon (Si), and such a substrate can be referred to as acrystalline silicon substrate. The use of crystalline Si can improve acoherence time of a qubit associated with a vertical Josephson junctionas described herein. Additionally, in some examples, a high-resistivitycrystalline Si can be utilized, which can further improve coherencetime. In some examples, this crystalline Si can be grown.

In some examples, a portion of superconductor 104 is deposited ontosubstrate 102, and a portion of superconductor 104 is deposited ontosubstrate 106. Then, these two portions of superconductor 104 can bebonded together to connect substrate 102 to superconductor 104 tosubstrate 106. Put another way, after depositing the respective portionsof superconductor 104 on substrate 102 and substrate 106, respectively,the exposed surface of a first portion of superconductor 104 can then bebonded to the exposed surface of a second portion of superconductor 104.In some examples, bonding can be effectuated with a low-temperatureanneal, or another adhesion approach.

FIG. 2 illustrates the example, non-limiting chip surface base devicestructure of FIG. 1 after creation of via 208 in accordance with one ormore embodiments described herein. As depicted, chip surface base devicestructure 200 reflects etching a via into substrate 106 of chip surfacebase device structure 100. A via 208 can generally comprise an openingthrough a layer of a chip base surface, through which a conductiveconnection between two other layers can be formed. Whereas chip surfacebase device structure 100 has substrate 106, here substrate 106 has beenetched to form via 208, leaving substrate 206A and substrate 206B toremain from what was substrate 106 (with via 208 formed betweensubstrate 206A and substrate 206B). The cross-sectional side view ofchip surface base device structure 200 shows that substrate 206A andsubstrate 206B are separated. However, it can be appreciated that a holehas been formed in substrate 106, which is shown in this cross-sectionalside view, and that substrate 206A and substrate 206B are stillconnected (e.g., from above, this substrate could look as if a hole wasformed in the middle of it). Other materials in cross-sectional sideviews can be similarly attached though they appear to be separated inthe cross-sectional side view. In some cases, via 208 can extend intothe superconductor 104, meaning part of the top of superconductor 104may be removed at the location of via 208.

In some examples, etch lithography can be implemented to etch via 208,with a depth of the via of 100-200 nm. In some examples, an aspect ratioof 1:1 between a height and a width of a via can be effectuated.

FIG. 3 illustrates the example, non-limiting chip surface base devicestructure of FIG. 2 after depositing a tunnel barrier layer inaccordance with one or more embodiments described herein. As depictedwith chip surface base device structure 300, a tunnel barrier layer hasbeen deposited on chip surface base device structure 200, and thistunnel barrier layer comprises tunnel barrier 308A, tunnel barrier 308B,and tunnel barrier 308C.

In some examples, tunnel barrier 308A, tunnel barrier 308B, and tunnelbarrier 308C can be deposited on chip surface base device structure 200using a sputter approach, an evaporative approach, or an atomic layerdeposition (ALD) approach. In some examples, tunnel barrier 308A, tunnelbarrier 308B, and tunnel barrier 308C can be aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃), anon-superconducting metal (sometimes referred to as a “normal” metal),an oxide or a nitride. In some examples, the tunnel barrier 308B can begrown or chemically induced on the exposed surface (after etch) ofsuperconductor 104, for example, by oxidation. Depending on the chemicalsensitivity of substrate 206, the surface layers of tunnel barrier 308Aand tunnel barrier 308C may or may not exist. Generally, a tunnelbarrier layer can be a thin layer of non-conducting material.

It can be appreciated that additional steps can be performed on chipsurface base device structure 300 to further produce a chip surface basedevice structure, similar to those described with respect to FIGS. 4-11.A difference between a chip surface base device structure created usingchip surface base device structure 300 and a chip surface base devicestructure using chip surface base device structure 400 can be found inthe presence of a second superconducting layer. In chip surface basedevice structure 400, a second superconducting layer is deposited belowa tunnel barrier layer, and this second superconducting layer is omittedfrom chip surface base device structure 300.

An advantage of depositing or growing the tunnel barrier layer on thefirst superconducting layer can be that such a chip surface base devicestructure is more reproducible than a chip surface base device structurewith a differently positioned tunnel barrier layer.

FIG. 4 illustrates the example, non-limiting chip surface base devicestructure of FIG. 2 after depositing a second superconductor inaccordance with one or more embodiments described herein. As depictedwith chip surface base device structure 400, a second superconductor hasbeen deposited on chip surface base device structure 200, and thissecond superconducting layer comprises superconductor 408A,superconductor 408B, and superconductor 408C. Chip surface base devicestructure 400 can be considered to be an alternative embodiment relativeto chip surface base device structure 300, where in each of theseembodiments a different type of layer is deposited onto chip surfacebase device structure 200.

This second superconducting layer (superconductor 408A, superconductor408B, and superconductor 408C) can be a different type of material thanthe first superconducting layer (superconductor 104), or it can be thesame type of material as the first superconducting layer. In someexamples, depositing this second superconducting layer may initiallycause superconductor 408A, superconductor 408B, and superconductor 408Cto be connected because some superconducting material is deposited onthe interior sides of substrate 206A and substrate 206B. Where thisoccurs, an isotropic etch-back can be performed to disconnectsuperconductor 408A from superconductor 408B, and to disconnectsuperconductor 408B from superconductor 408C (i.e., to remove thatportion of the superconducting material that is deposited on theinterior sides of substrate 206A and substrate 206B). Alternatively, alithographic patterning step can be performed in alignment with theprevious etch step, and the material on the interior sides can be etchedanisotropically (as for example with a reactive ion etch) whileprotecting the center of the via (and superconductor 408B) from the etchusing resist (photoresist or electron-beam resist).

Adding superconductor 408B (and a height of superconductor 408B, or evenwhether to add superconductor 408B) can be used to determine a height ofa vertical Josephson junction. The more of superconductor 408B that isadded, the closer the vertical Josephson junction is to a top of thevia, and the less of superconductor 408B that is added (or not addingsuperconductor 408B at all), the closer the vertical Josephson junctionis to a bottom of the via. Beyond a vertical Josephson junction beingformed at the bottom of a via, there can be examples where a verticalJosephson junction can be formed below the bottom of a via. That is,where a via is cleaned before depositing a tunnel barrier layer, thiscleaning (e.g., an etching) can remove some material at the bottom ofthe via, further deepening it. Then, when the tunnel barrier layer isdeposited, it can be deposited below the former bottom of the via.

Considerations that can be used to determine a placement of a verticalJosephson junction can include how the height of the vertical Josephsonjunction affects an ability to reproduce such a vertical Josephsonjunction in fabricating multiple vertical Josephson junctions, and anability to attach particular materials used in a chip surface basedevice structure (such as an ability to attach the tunnel barrier layerwith a material used for superconductor 104). For example, verticalJosephson junction with a tunnel barrier layer closer to a top of a viamay result in less variability in fabricating multiple such verticalJosephson junctions.

In chip surface base device structure 400, superconductor 104 andsuperconductor 408B are touching, or next to, each other. In general,two superconductors that are placed next to each other in thisarrangement or a similar arrangement behave as a single superconductor,and will exhibit a single superconducting phase even where the twosuperconductors are made up of different materials from each other.

In the course of depositing superconductor 408A, superconductor 408B,and superconductor 408C, some superconducting material can be depositedonto the sidewalls of the via—i.e., some superconducting material mayconnect superconductor 408A with superconductor 408B, and somesuperconducting material may connect superconductor 408B withsuperconductor 408C. This additional superconducting material on thesidewalls of the via can be removed. For example, it can be etched away,such as using a wet etch that is isotropic—i.e., the etch operates thesame in all directions. Since the sidewall deposit is thinner byconstruction (though there can be embodiments where this is not true,such as with conformally grown techniques such as ALD) than that ofsuperconductor 408A, superconductor 408B and superconductor 408C, thesidewall deposit can be etched faster while not etching awaysuperconductor 408A, superconductor 408B and superconductor 408C. Inother embodiments, a lithographic patterning step can be performed inalignment with the previous etch step, and the material on the interiorsides can be etched anisotropically (as for example with a reactive ionetch) while protecting the center of the via (and superconductor 408B)from the etch using resist (photoresist or electron-beam resist).

An advantage of depositing the second superconducting layer in thismanner can be that a height of the second superconducting layer can beused to set a height of the tunnel base layer (that is deposited uponthe second superconducting layer, as depicted in FIG. 5) in the via.

FIG. 5 illustrates the example, non-limiting chip surface base devicestructure of FIG. 4 after depositing a tunnel barrier layer inaccordance with one or more embodiments described herein. As depictedwith chip surface base device structure 500, a tunnel barrier layer hasbeen deposited on chip surface base device structure 400, and thistunnel barrier layer comprises tunnel barrier 510A, tunnel barrier 510B,and tunnel barrier 510C. Thus, like the example chip surface base devicestructure 300, chip surface base device structure 500 also comprises atunnel barrier layer, and a difference between chip surface base devicestructure 300 and chip surface base device structure 500 is that chipsurface base device structure 300 has one layer of a superconductorbeneath the tunnel barrier layer, and chip surface base device structure500 has two layers of a superconductor beneath the tunnel barrier layer.Similar to that described with respect to tunnel barrier 308A, tunnelbarrier 308B, and tunnel barrier 308C, here, tunnel barrier 510A, tunnelbarrier 510B, and tunnel barrier 510C can be aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃), anon-superconducting metal, an oxide or a nitride. In some examples, thetunnel barrier 510B can be formed by growth or chemical modification(e.g., oxidation) of the exposed surface (after etch) of superconductor408B.

FIG. 6 illustrates the example, non-limiting chip surface base devicestructure of FIG. 5 after depositing another superconducting layer,which is thicker than the initial height of the via in accordance withone or more embodiments described herein. As depicted with chip surfacebase device structure 600, a third superconducting layer has beendeposited onto chip surface base device structure 500, and this thirdsuperconducting layer comprises superconductor 610A, superconductor610B, and superconductor 610C.

While each of superconductor 610A, superconductor 610B, andsuperconductor 610C are depicted as being distinct, it can beappreciated that this depiction is a logical depiction that is used tohighlight the via formed between substrate 206A and substrate 206B, andthat superconductor 610A, superconductor 610B, and superconductor 610Ccan form a contiguous layer of the superconductor. A similar logicaldepiction is also used with respect to at least some of the other layersdepicted in FIGS. 1-11.

By depositing another superconducting layer that is thicker than theinitial height of the via, the former top superconducting layer(comprising superconductor 408A and superconductor 408C) isintentionally electrically shorted (directly in contact with). Thisintentional shorting is done to ensure that the via is completelyfilled, and this intentional shorting can be addressed later, such asshown with chip surface base device structure 1000, where superconductor408A and superconductor 408C have been removed. Additionally, depositingtunnel barrier 510A, tunnel barrier 510B, and tunnel barrier 510C (andconversely tunnel barrier 308A, tunnel barrier 308B and tunnel barrier308C) can result in deposition of a tunnel barrier layer in the sidewallof substrate 206A and substrate 206B. If this sidewall material is notetched back (such as for the isotropic etch back of superconductor 408A,superconductor 408B and superconductor 408C), then there could be aresult where superconductor 610B does not electrically shortsuperconductor 408A and superconductor 408C.

In some examples, this third superconducting layer can be a differenttype of material than either the first superconducting layer or thesecond superconducting layer. For example, the first superconductinglayer can be Ti, the second superconducting layer can be Ta, and thethird superconducting layer can be TiN. In some examples, either two orthree of these layers are of the same type of layer. In some examples,the third superconducting layer is deposited with a greater thicknessthan the first superconducting layer and/or the second superconductinglayer, and this increased thickness can facilitate a better control ofremoving part or all of the third superconducting layer at a future time(such as depicted with respect to FIG. 8).

FIG. 7 illustrates the example, non-limiting chip surface base devicestructure of FIG. 5 after depositing another superconducting layer,which is thinner than the initial height of the via in accordance withone or more embodiments described herein. As depicted with chip surfacebase device structure 700, a third superconducting layer has beendeposited onto chip surface base device structure 500, and this thirdsuperconducting layer comprises superconductor 712A, superconductor712B, and superconductor 712C.

Chip surface base device structure 700 can be viewed in contrast to chipsurface base device structure 600. As depicted in chip surface basedevice structure 600, the third superconducting layer is thicker thanthe initial height of the via formed between substrate 206A andsubstrate 206B. In contrast, in chip surface base device structure 700,the third superconducting layer is thinner than the initial height ofthe via formed between substrate 206A and substrate 206B.

FIG. 8 illustrates the example, non-limiting chip surface base devicestructure of FIG. 6 after removing material down to the top tunnelbarrier layer in accordance with one or more embodiments describedherein. As depicted with chip surface base device structure 800, andrelative to chip surface base device structure 600, material has beenremoved down to the height of tunnel barrier 510A and tunnel barrier510B. This material removed comprises superconductor 610A, some ofsuperconductor 610B (producing superconductor 810B), and superconductor610C. In some cases, part of tunnel barrier 510A and tunnel barrier 510Cmay also have been removed.

In some examples, a chemical-mechanical polarization (CMP) process canbe utilized to remove this material. It can be appreciated that asimilar approach of removing material can be applied to chip surfacebase device structure 700, where superconductor 712A and superconductor712C are removed, as well as, in some embodiments, some ofsuperconductor 712B.

FIG. 9 illustrates the example, non-limiting chip surface base devicestructure of FIG. 8 after removing the top tunnel barrier layer inaccordance with one or more embodiments described herein. As depictedwith chip surface base device structure 900, and relative to chipsurface base device structure 800, material has been removed down to theheight of superconductor 408A and superconductor 408C. This materialremoved comprises tunnel barrier 510A, tunnel barrier 510C, and some ofsuperconductor 810B (producing superconductor 910B). In some examples, ashort-timed CMP process can be utilized to remove this material. In someexamples, a short-timed anisotropic etch (such as reactive ion etch,which can be highly selective to oxides such as those used in tunnelbarriers) can be utilized to remove this material.

FIG. 10 illustrates the example, non-limiting chip surface base devicestructure of FIG. 6 after removing material down to the top substratelayer in accordance with one or more embodiments described herein. Asdepicted with chip surface base device structure 1000, and relative tochip surface base device structure 900, material has been removed downto the height of substrate 206A and substrate 206B. This materialremoved comprises superconductor 408A, superconductor 408C, and some ofsuperconductor 910B (producing superconductor 1010B).

In some embodiments, superconductor 1010B can be referred to as a topsuperconductor, and an electrode of a vertical Josephson junction formedwith superconductor 1010B can be referred to as a top electrode of thevertical Josephson junction. While the term “top” can be used toidentify these particular features, it can be appreciated that the useof “top” does not require a particular orientation of a verticalJosephson junction. That is, in some examples, the chip surface basedevice structure of FIG. 10 can be implemented after rotating it 180degrees, so that what appears at the top of the FIG. would then appearat the bottom of the figure. Further, in some embodiments, a “top” layercan have an additional layer or component or element placed above thelayer in some embodiments. All such embodiments are envisaged.

In some examples, a short-timed CMP process can be utilized to removethis material. FIG. 10 also illustrates the example, non-limiting chipsurface base device structure of FIG. 7 after removing material down tothe top of superconductor 712B in accordance with one or moreembodiments described herein.

FIG. 11 illustrates the example, non-limiting chip surface base devicestructure of FIG. 10 after depositing another superconducting layer inaccordance with one or more embodiments described herein. As depictedwith chip surface base device structure 1100, a fourth superconductinglayer has been deposited on chip surface base device structure 1000, andthis fourth superconducting layer is depicted here as superconductor1112.

In some examples, this fourth superconducting layer can be same materialtype as one or more of the first superconducting layer, the secondsuperconducting layer, and the third superconducting layer. In someexamples, the fourth superconducting layer is a different material thanthe first superconducting layer, the second superconducting layer, andthe third superconducting layer. In some examples, this fourthsuperconducting layer (and/or the second superconducting layer or thethird superconducting layer) can comprise Niobium (Nb).

In some examples, vertical Josephson junction 1114 comprises tunnelbarrier 510B, first electrode 1120 comprising superconductor 1010B, andtop electrode 1118 (located on an opposite side 1116 of the tunnelbarrier 510B from superconductor 1010B) comprising superconductor 408B.In some examples, a thickness of the superconductor(s) of the firstelectrode and a thickness of the superconductor(s) of the secondelectrode are approximately the same. This thickness can be greater than100 nm.

In examples where a same superconducting material is used for both thefirst electrode and for the second electrode, the superconducting gap oneach side of the tunnel barrier can be equal, which may be utilized indetermining a critical current (the critical current generallyidentifying a maximum supercurrent that can flow across the Josephsonjunction). A value for a critical current in a vertical Josephsonjunction can be based on materials used, and surface areas of thosematerials in the junction. Creating multiple vertical Josephsonjunctions where the associated critical current is more reproduciblebetween those vertical Josephson junctions can be based on materialtype(s) used, thickness of those materials, and a size of an opening ofthe vertical Josephson junction.

In some examples, multiple vertical Josephson junctions as depicted inchip surface base device structure 1100 can be formed on one wafer.These multiple vertical Josephson junctions can be formed in parallel,and/or sequentially on a wafer.

In some examples, an advantage of a vertical Josephson junction asdepicted in chip surface base device structure 1100 is that such avertical Josephson junction can be reproduced with low variability, andthat a variety of materials can be used in fabricating such a verticalJosephson junction.

FIG. 12 illustrates a flow diagram of an example, non-limitingcomputer-implemented method that facilitates implementing a verticalJosephson junction superconducting device in accordance with one or moreembodiments described herein. In some examples, flow diagram 1200 can beimplemented by operating environment 1400. It can be appreciated thatthe operations of flow diagram 1200 can be implemented in a differentorder than is depicted. It can also be appreciated that the operationsof flow diagram 1200 can be implemented in a different order than isdepicted.

In non-limiting example embodiments, a computing device (or system)(e.g., computer 1412) is provided comprising one or more processors andone or more memories that stores executable instructions that, whenexecuted by the one or more processors, can facilitate performance ofthe operations as described herein, including the non-limiting methodsas illustrated in the flow diagrams of FIG. 12. As a non-limitingexample, the one or more processors can facilitate performance of themethods by directing or controlling one or more equipment operable toperform semiconductor fabrication.

An advantage of a method such as depicted in FIG. 12 can be that it canbe used to fabricate vertical Josephson junctions that are more uniformthan Josephson junctions fabricated from previous techniques.

Operation 1202 depicts physically coupling (e.g., by computer 1412) asubstrate comprising crystalline silicon with a first superconductinglayer. Operation 1204 depicts physically coupling (e.g., by computer1412) the first superconducting layer with a second substrate comprisingcrystalline silicon. Operation 1206 depicts etching the substrate.

An example of this above arrangement can be seen as chip surface basedevice structure 100, where the substrate is substrate 106, the firstsuperconducting layer is superconductor 104, and the second substrate issubstrate 102. In some examples, a bonding approach is used tophysically couple the first substrate, the superconductor, and thesecond substrate. For example, a first portion of the superconductor canbe deposited on the first substrate, and a second portion of thesuperconductor can be deposited on the second substrate. Then, the firstportion of the superconductor and the second portion of thesuperconductor can be bonded together, thus physically coupling thefirst substrate, the superconductor, and the second substrate.

In some examples, the substrate has a thickness of 100-200 nanometers(nm). This thickness of 100-200 nm can be obtained by acquiringcrystalline silicon wafers with that thickness (such as those grown by amanufacturer), or by acquiring crystalline silicon to a thicknessgreater than 100-200 nm, and then—after physically coupling thesubstrate, the superconductor, and the second substrate—removing some ofthe crystalline silicon so that its thickness is then 100-200 nm.

An advantage of using crystalline silicon can be that crystallinesilicon can be a material that is suitable for forming a verticalJosephson junction as described herein. Crystalline silicon has a lowloss tangent in the microwave regime, which can make it suitable forsuperconducting quantum circuits, which can rely on Josephson junctionsas an essential circuit element.

Operation 1208 depicts forming (e.g., by computer 1412) a verticalJosephson junction in an etching of the substrate, the verticalJosephson junction comprising a tunnel barrier layer and a topsuperconducting layer.

An example of this arrangement of operation 1208 can be seen as chipsurface base device structure 900 and as chip surface base devicestructure 1100. With chip surface base device structure 900, thevertical Josephson junction can be the combination of superconductor408B, tunnel barrier MOB, and superconductor 910B. In some examples,superconductor 408B and superconductor 910B can be said to be arrangedon opposite sides of tunnel barrier 510B. Then, superconductor 408B canbe considered to be an electrode of the vertical Josephson junction, andsuperconductor 910B can be considered to be another electrode of thevertical Josephson junction.

With chip surface base device structure 1100, the vertical Josephsonjunction can be the combination of superconductor 408B, tunnel barrier510B, and superconductor 1010B. Then, superconductor 408B can beconsidered to be an electrode of the vertical Josephson junction, andsuperconductor 910B can be considered to be another electrode of thevertical Josephson junction.

In some examples, in operation 1208, the etching of the substratecomprises a via. This via can be seen, for example, with chip surfacebase device structure 200, where the via can be the space betweensubstrate 206A and substrate 206C.

In some examples, in operation 1208, the tunnel barrier layer isdeposited onto the first superconducting layer or a secondsuperconducting layer. This former arrangement can be seen, for example,with chip surface base device structure 300, where the tunnel base layercan be tunnel barrier 308B, and it is deposited directly ontosuperconductor 104, which can be the first superconducting layer.Regarding being the tunnel barrier layer being deposited on a secondsuperconducting layer, this latter arrangement can be seen, for example,with chip surface base device structure 500 where the tunnel base layercan be tunnel barrier 510B, and it is deposited on superconductor 408B,which can be the second superconducting layer.

In some examples, in operation 1208, the vertical Josephson junctioncomprises a third superconducting layer that is deposited between thefirst superconducting layer and the tunnel barrier layer. Thisarrangement can be seen, for example, with chip surface base devicestructure 500, where the tunnel base layer can be tunnel barrier 510B,the first superconducting layer can be superconductor 104, and thesecond superconducting layer can be superconductor 408B.

In some examples, in operation 1208, the first superconducting layer andthe second superconducting layer each comprise an electrode of thevertical Josephson junction. This arrangement can be seen, for example,with chip surface base device structure 1100, where the firstsuperconducting layer can be superconductor 408B, and the secondsuperconducting layer can be superconductor 1010B.

In some examples, in operation 1208, the tunnel barrier layer isdeposited by sputtering, evaporating, atomic layer deposition (ALD),growth or chemical modification (for example, oxidation) of thesuperconductor 104 or 408B. That is, depositing the tunnel barrier layercan be effectuated by performing the process within a group consistingof sputtering, evaporating, atomic layer deposition, and chemicalmodification. Sputtering is generally depositing a first material onto asecond material by bombarding the second material with particles of thefirst material. Evaporating is generally evaporating a first material ina vacuum, where vapor particles of the first material travel to a secondmaterial, and condense to a solid state on the second material. ALD isgenerally utilizing a gas phase chemical process to deposit a film of asecond material onto a first material. Oxidation as an example ofchemical modification can generally involve introducing a partialpressure of oxygen into a chamber containing the substrate in order tocreate an oxide of the exposed material.

In some examples, in operation 1208, the second superconducting layer isdeposited between the second substrate and the tunnel barrier layer.This arrangement can be seen, for example, with chip surface base devicestructure 500, where the second superconducting layer can besuperconductor 408B, the second substrate can be substrate 102, and thetunnel barrier layer can be tunnel barrier 510B.

In some examples, in operation 1208, a height of the secondsuperconducting layer is shorter than an initial height of the etchingof the substrate. This arrangement can be seen, for example, with chipsurface base device structure 700, where the second superconductinglayer can be superconductor 712B, the initial height of the etching ofthe substrate is a height of what was etched from substrate 106 to formsubstrate 206A and substrate 206B, and the height of superconductor 712Bis less than a height of what was etched from substrate 106 to formsubstrate 206A and substrate 206B.

In some examples, in operation 1208, the second superconducting layerand the third superconducting layer are of a different type. Forexample, with regard to chip surface base device structure 700, thesecond superconducting layer can be superconductor 408B, and the thirdsuperconducting layer can be superconductor 712B. In such an example,superconductor 408B can be a first type of superconducting material, andsuperconductor 712B can be a second type of superconducting material.

In some examples, in operation 1208, a chemical-mechanical planarization(CMP) is used to remove a portion of the second superconducting layer.For example, with regard to chip surface base device structure 600, thesecond superconducting layer can be the combination of superconductor610A, superconductor 610B, and superconductor 610C. Then, a way in whichchip surface base device structure 800 differs from chip surface basedevice structure 600 is that in chip surface base device structure 800and relative to chip surface base device structure 600, superconductor610A has been removed, a portion of superconductor 610B has beenremoved, and superconductor 610C has been removed. A CMP that can beused in this removal generally can be an approach to smoothing asurface, or removing material from a surface, with a combined approachof chemical and mechanical forces.

In some examples, in operation 1208, the vertical Josephson junction isformed within a via, and the via is formed using a mask and reactive ionetch (RIE). For example, with regard to the chip surface base devicestructure 1100, the vertical Josephson junction can comprisesuperconductor 408B, tunnel barrier 510B, and superconductor 1010B. Thisvertical Josephson junction is formed within a via, which can be a spacecreated between substrate 206A and substrate 206B (where the space wascreated from substrate 106 in chip surface base device structure 100).This via can be formed using a mask and RIE. A mask can generally be amaterial or substance that is formed into a shape such that a definedportion of a semiconductor is exposed when a process is applied to add,remove, or modify material in the semiconductor (and another definedportion of the semiconductor is protected by the mask such that thisprocess does not add, remove, or modify material to this protectedportion). A RIE can generally be an approach that utilizes chemicallyreactive plasma to remove material.

In some examples, in operation 1208, CMP is utilized (or performed) toremove a portion of the tunnel barrier layer that is located outside ofthe via. For example, between chip surface base device structure 800 andchip surface base device structure 900, some tunnel barrier layer(tunnel barrier 510A and tunnel barrier 510C) is removed. Removingtunnel barrier 510A and tunnel barrier 510C can be effectuated with CMP.

In some examples, in operation 1208, CMP is utilized (or performed) toremove a portion of the second superconducting layer that is locatedoutside of the via. For example, the second superconducting layer can bethe combination of superconductor 408A and superconductor 408C (and canalso include superconductor 910B). Between chip surface base devicestructure 900 and chip surface base device structure 1000, a portion ofthis second superconducting layer is removed (which is depicted as allof superconductor 408A, some of superconductor 910B, and all ofsuperconductor 408C being removed to form chip surface base devicestructure 1000). Removing all of superconductor 408A, some ofsuperconductor 910B, and all of superconductor 408C can be effectuatedwith CMP.

In some examples, in operation 1208, a third superconducting layer isdeposited on the second substrate after removing the portion of thesecond superconducting layer that is located outside of the via.

For example, chip surface base device structure 1100 can includesuperconductor 1112 as the third superconducting layer, and the secondsubstrate can be substrate 206A and substrate 206C. Superconductor 1112can be deposited on substrate 206A and substrate 206C, aftersuperconductor 408A, part of superconductor 910B, and superconductor408C (as depicted in chip surface base device structure 900) have beenremoved from chip surface base device structure 900 to produce chipsurface base device structure 1000 (with chip surface base devicestructure 1100 being created from chip surface base device structure1000 through depositing superconductor 1112).

FIG. 13 illustrates another flow diagram of an example, non-limitingcomputer-implemented method that facilitates implementing a verticalJosephson junction superconducting device in accordance with one or moreembodiments described herein. In some examples, flow diagram 1300 can beimplemented by operating environment 1400. It can be appreciated thatthe operations of flow diagram 1300 can be implemented in a differentorder than is depicted.

In non-limiting example embodiments, a computing device (or system)(e.g., computer 1412) is provided comprising one or more processors andone or more memories that stores executable instructions that, whenexecuted by the one or more processors, can facilitate performance ofthe operations as described herein, including the non-limiting methodsas illustrated in the flow diagrams of FIG. 13. As a non-limitingexample, the one or more processors can facilitate performance of themethods by directing or controlling one or more equipment operable toperform semiconductor fabrication.

An advantage of a method as depicted in FIG. 13 can be that it can beused to fabricate vertical Josephson junctions that are more uniformthan Josephson junctions fabricated from previous techniques.

Operation 1302 depicts bonding (e.g., by computer 1412) a first portionof a superconducting layer that is physically coupled to a crystallinesilicon substrate with a second portion of the superconducting layerthat is physically coupled with a second crystalline silicon substrate,the superconducting layer, and the second substrate comprising a SOMbase.

For example, a first portion of the superconductor can be deposited onthe first substrate, and a second portion of the superconductor can bedeposited on the second substrate. Then, the first portion of thesuperconductor and the second portion of the superconductor can bebonded together, thus physically coupling the first substrate, thesuperconductor, and the second substrate.

An example of this arrangement of operation 1302 can be seen as chipsurface base device structure 100, where the substrate is substrate 106,the first superconducting layer is superconductor 104, and the secondsubstrate is substrate 102. In some examples, the substrate has athickness of 100-200 nanometers (nm). This thickness of 100-200 nm canbe obtained by growing crystalline silicon to that thickness, or bygrowing crystalline silicon to a thickness greater than 100-200 nm, andthen—after physically coupling the substrate, the superconductor, andthe second substrate—removing some of the crystalline silicon so thatits thickness is then 100-200 nm.

An advantage of using bonding to connect the substrate with the firstsuperconducting layer, and the first superconducting layer with thesecond substrate can be to electrically isolate components of a chipsurface base device structure, such as a vertical Josephson junctionformed in the chip surface base device structure.

Operation 1304 depicts forming (e.g., by computer 1412) a verticalJosephson junction in an etching of the crystalline silicon substrate,the vertical Josephson junction comprising the superconducting layer, atunnel barrier layer, and a second superconducting layer.

An example of this arrangement of operation 1304 can be seen as chipsurface base device structure 900 and as chip surface base devicestructure 1100. With chip surface base device structure 900, thevertical Josephson junction can be the combination of superconductor408B, tunnel barrier 510B, and superconductor 910B. Then, superconductor408B can be considered to be an electrode of the vertical Josephsonjunction, and superconductor 910B can be considered to be anotherelectrode of the vertical Josephson junction.

With chip surface base device structure 1100, the vertical Josephsonjunction can be the combination of superconductor 408B, tunnel barrier510B, and superconductor 1010B. Then, superconductor 408B can beconsidered to be an electrode of the vertical Josephson junction, andsuperconductor 910B can be considered to be another electrode of thevertical Josephson junction.

In some examples, in operation 1304, the etching of the substratecomprises a via. This via can be seen, for example, with chip surfacebase device structure 200, where the via can be the space betweensubstrate 206A and substrate 206C.

In some examples, in operation 1304, the tunnel barrier layer isdeposited onto the first superconducting layer or a secondsuperconducting layer. This former arrangement can be seen, for example,with chip surface base device structure 300, where the tunnel base layercan be tunnel barrier 308B, and it is deposited directly ontosuperconductor 104, which can be the first superconducting layer.Regarding being the tunnel barrier layer being deposited on a secondsuperconducting layer, this latter arrangement can be seen, for example,with chip surface base device structure 500 where the tunnel base layercan be tunnel barrier 510B, and it is deposited on superconductor 408B,which can be the second superconducting layer.

In some examples, in operation 1304, the vertical Josephson junctioncomprises a second superconducting layer that is deposited between thefirst superconducting layer and the tunnel barrier layer. Thisarrangement can be seen, for example, with chip surface base devicestructure 500, where the tunnel base layer can be tunnel barrier 510B,the first superconducting layer can be superconductor 104, and thesecond superconducting layer can be superconductor 408B.

In some examples, in operation 1304, the first superconducting layer andthe second superconducting layer each comprise an electrode of thevertical Josephson junction. This arrangement can be seen, for example,with chip surface base device structure 1100, where the firstsuperconducting layer can be superconductor 408B, and the secondsuperconducting layer can be superconductor 1010B.

In some examples, in operation 1304, the tunnel barrier layer isdeposited by sputtering, evaporating, or ALD.

In some examples, in operation 1304, the second superconducting layer isdeposited between the first superconducting layer and the tunnel barrierlayer. This arrangement can be seen, for example, with chip surface basedevice structure 500, where the second superconducting layer can besuperconductor 408B, the first superconducting layer can besuperconductor 104, and the tunnel barrier layer can be tunnel barrier510B.

In some examples, in operation 1304, a height of the secondsuperconducting layer is shorter than an initial height of the etchingof the substrate. This arrangement can be seen, for example, with chipsurface base device structure 700, where the second superconductinglayer can be superconductor 712B, the initial height of the etching ofthe substrate is a height of what was etched from substrate 106 to formsubstrate 206A and substrate 206B, and the height of superconductor 712Bis less than a height of what was etched from substrate 106 to formsubstrate 206A and substrate 206B.

In some examples, in operation 1304, the second superconducting layerand the third superconducting layer are of a different type. Forexample, with regard to chip surface base device structure 700, thesecond superconducting layer can be superconductor 408B, and the thirdsuperconducting layer can be superconductor 712B (which each comprise anelectrode of a vertical Josephson junction). In such an example,superconductor 408B can be a first type of superconducting material, andsuperconductor 712B can be a second type of superconducting material.

In some examples, in operation 1304, a CMP is used to remove a portionof the third superconducting layer. For example, with regard to chipsurface base device structure 600, the third superconducting layer canbe the combination of superconductor 610A, superconductor 610B, andsuperconductor 610C. Then, a way in which chip surface base devicestructure 800 differs from chip surface base device structure 600 isthat in chip surface base device structure 800 and relative to chipsurface base device structure 600, superconductor 610A has been removed,a portion of superconductor 610B has been removed, and superconductor610C has been removed.

In some examples, in operation 1304, the vertical Josephson junction isformed within a via, and the via is formed using a mask and RIE. Forexample, with regard to the chip surface base device structure 1100, thevertical Josephson junction can comprise superconductor 408B, tunnelbarrier 510B, and superconductor 1010B. This vertical Josephson junctionis formed within a via, which can be a space created between substrate206A and substrate 206B (where the space was created from substrate 106in chip surface base device structure 100). This via can be formed usinga mask and RIE.

In some examples, in operation 1304, CMP is utilized to remove a portionof the tunnel barrier layer that is located outside of the via. Forexample, between chip surface base device structure 800 and chip surfacebase device structure 900, some tunnel barrier layer (tunnel barrier510A and tunnel barrier 510C) is removed. Removing tunnel barrier 510Aand tunnel barrier 510C can be effectuated with CMP.

In some examples, in operation 1304, CMP is utilized remove a portion ofthe second superconducting layer that is located outside of the via. Forexample, the second superconducting layer can be the combination ofsuperconductor 408A and superconductor 408C (and can also includesuperconductor 910B). Between chip surface base device structure 900 andchip surface base device structure 1000, a portion of this secondsuperconducting layer is removed (which is depicted as all ofsuperconductor 408A, some of superconductor 910B, and all ofsuperconductor 408C being removed to form chip surface base devicestructure 1000). Removing all of superconductor 408A, some ofsuperconductor 910B, and all of superconductor 408C can be effectuatedwith CMP.

In some examples, in operation 1304, a third superconducting layer isdeposited on the substrate after removing the portion of the secondsuperconducting layer that is located outside of the via.

For example, chip surface base device structure 1100 can includesuperconductor 1112 as the fourth superconducting layer, and thesubstrate can be substrate 206A and substrate 206B. Superconductor 1112can be deposited on substrate 206A and substrate 206B, aftersuperconductor 408A, part of superconductor 910B, and superconductor408C (as depicted in chip surface base device structure 900) have beenremoved from chip surface base device structure 900 to produce chipsurface base device structure 1000 (with chip surface base devicestructure 1100 being created from chip surface base device structure1000 through depositing superconductor 1112).

In order to provide a context for the various aspects of the disclosedsubject matter, FIG. 14 as well as the following discussion are intendedto provide a general description of a suitable environment in which thevarious aspects of the disclosed subject matter can be implemented. Forexample, operating environment 1400 can be used to implement aspects ofthe example, non-limiting computer-implemented methods that facilitatesimplementing a vertical Josephson junction superconducting device ofFIGS. 12 and 13.

FIG. 14 illustrates a block diagram of an example, non-limitingoperating environment in which one or more embodiments described hereincan be facilitated. Repetitive description of like elements employed inother embodiments described herein is omitted for sake of brevity. Withreference to FIG. 14, a suitable operating environment 1400 forimplementing various aspects of this disclosure can also include acomputer 1412. The computer 1412 can also include a processing unit1414, a system memory 1416, and a system bus 1418. The system bus 1418couples system components including, but not limited to, the systemmemory 1416 to the processing unit 1414. The processing unit 1414 can beany of various available processors. Dual microprocessors and othermultiprocessor architectures also can be employed as the processing unit1414. The system bus 1418 can be any of several types of busstructure(s) including the memory bus or memory controller, a peripheralbus or external bus, and/or a local bus using any variety of availablebus architectures including, but not limited to, Industrial StandardArchitecture (ISA), Micro-Channel Architecture (MSA), Extended ISA(EISA), Intelligent Drive Electronics (IDE), VESA Local Bus (VLB),Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI), Card Bus, Universal Serial Bus(USB), Advanced Graphics Port (AGP), Firewire (IEEE 1394), and SmallComputer Systems Interface (SCSI).

The system memory 1416 can also include volatile memory 1420 andnonvolatile memory 1422. The basic input/output system (BIOS),containing the basic routines to transfer information between elementswithin the computer 1412, such as during start-up, is stored innonvolatile memory 1422. By way of illustration, and not limitation,nonvolatile memory 1422 can include read only memory (ROM), programmableROM (PROM), electrically programmable ROM (EPROM), electrically erasableprogrammable ROM (EEPROM), flash memory, or nonvolatile random accessmemory (RAM) (e.g., ferroelectric RAM (FeRAM). Volatile memory 1420 canalso include random access memory (RAM), which acts as external cachememory. By way of illustration and not limitation, RAM is available inmany forms such as static RAM (SRAM), dynamic RAM (DRAM), synchronousDRAM (SDRAM), double data rate SDRAM (DDR SDRAM), enhanced SDRAM(ESDRAM), Synchlink DRAM (SLDRAM), direct Rambus RAM (DRRAM), directRambus dynamic RAM (DRDRAM), and Rambus dynamic RAM.

Computer 1412 can also include removable/non-removable,volatile/nonvolatile computer storage media. FIG. 14 illustrates, forexample, a disk storage 1424. Disk storage 1424 can also include, but isnot limited to, devices like a magnetic disk drive, floppy disk drive,tape drive, Jaz drive, Zip drive, LS-100 drive, flash memory card, ormemory stick. The disk storage 1424 also can include storage mediaseparately or in combination with other storage media including, but notlimited to, an optical disk drive such as a compact disk ROM device(CD-ROM), CD recordable drive (CD-R Drive), CD rewritable drive (CD-RWDrive) or a digital versatile disk ROM drive (DVD-ROM). To facilitateconnection of the disk storage 1424 to the system bus 1418, a removableor non-removable interface is typically used, such as interface 1426.FIG. 14 also depicts software that acts as an intermediary between usersand the basic computer resources described in the suitable operatingenvironment 1400. Such software can also include, for example, anoperating system 1428. Operating system 1428, which can be stored ondisk storage 1424, acts to control and allocate resources of thecomputer 1412.

System applications 1430 take advantage of the management of resourcesby operating system 1428 through program modules 1432 and program data1434, e.g., stored either in system memory 1416 or on disk storage 1424.It is to be appreciated that this disclosure can be implemented withvarious operating systems or combinations of operating systems. A userenters commands or information into the computer 1412 through inputdevice(s) 1436. Input devices 1436 include, but are not limited to, apointing device such as a mouse, trackball, stylus, touch pad, keyboard,microphone, joystick, game pad, satellite dish, scanner, TV tuner card,digital camera, digital video camera, web camera, and the like. Theseand other input devices connect to the processing unit 1414 through thesystem bus 1418 via interface port(s) 1438. Interface port(s) 1438include, for example, a serial port, a parallel port, a game port, and auniversal serial bus (USB). Output device(s) 1440 use some of the sametype of ports as input device(s) 1436. Thus, for example, a USB port canbe used to provide input to computer 1412, and to output informationfrom computer 1412 to an output device 1440. Output adapter 1442 isprovided to illustrate that there are some output devices 1440 likemonitors, speakers, and printers, among other output devices 1440, whichrequire special adapters. The output adapters 1442 include, by way ofillustration and not limitation, video and sound cards that provide ameans of connection between the output device 1440 and the system bus1418. It should be noted that other devices and/or systems of devicesprovide both input and output capabilities such as remote computer(s)1444.

Computer 1412 can operate in a networked environment using logicalconnections to one or more remote computers, such as remote computer(s)1444. The remote computer(s) 1444 can be a computer, a server, a router,a network PC, a workstation, a microprocessor based appliance, a peerdevice or other common network node and the like, and typically can alsoinclude many or all of the elements described relative to computer 1412.For purposes of brevity, only a memory storage device 1446 isillustrated with remote computer(s) 1444. Remote computer(s) 1444 islogically connected to computer 1412 through a network interface 1448and then physically connected via communication connection 1450. Networkinterface 1448 encompasses wire and/or wireless communication networkssuch as local-area networks (LAN), wide-area networks (WAN), cellularnetworks, etc. LAN technologies include Fiber Distributed Data Interface(FDDI), Copper Distributed Data Interface (CDDI), Ethernet, Token Ringand the like. WAN technologies include, but are not limited to,point-to-point links, circuit switching networks like IntegratedServices Digital Networks (ISDN) and variations thereon, packetswitching networks, and Digital Subscriber Lines (DSL). Communicationconnection(s) 1450 refers to the hardware/software employed to connectthe network interface 1448 to the system bus 1418. While communicationconnection 1450 is shown for illustrative clarity inside computer 1412,it can also be external to computer 1412. The hardware/software forconnection to the network interface 1448 can also include, for exemplarypurposes only, internal and external technologies such as, modemsincluding regular telephone grade modems, cable modems and DSL modems,ISDN adapters, and Ethernet cards.

The present invention can be a system, a method, an apparatus and/or acomputer program product at any possible technical detail level ofintegration. The computer program product can include a computerreadable storage medium (or media) having computer readable programinstructions thereon for causing a processor to carry out aspects of thepresent invention. The computer readable storage medium can be atangible device that can retain and store instructions for use by aninstruction execution device. The computer readable storage medium canbe, for example, but is not limited to, an electronic storage device, amagnetic storage device, an optical storage device, an electromagneticstorage device, a semiconductor storage device, or any suitablecombination of the foregoing. A non-exhaustive list of more specificexamples of the computer readable storage medium can also include thefollowing: a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random accessmemory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmableread-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), a static random access memory(SRAM), a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), a digitalversatile disk (DVD), a memory stick, a floppy disk, a mechanicallyencoded device such as punch-cards or raised structures in a groovehaving instructions recorded thereon, and any suitable combination ofthe foregoing. A computer readable storage medium, as used herein, isnot to be construed as being transitory signals per se, such as radiowaves or other freely propagating electromagnetic waves, electromagneticwaves propagating through a waveguide or other transmission media (e.g.,light pulses passing through a fiber-optic cable), or electrical signalstransmitted through a wire.

Computer readable program instructions described herein can bedownloaded to respective computing/processing devices from a computerreadable storage medium or to an external computer or external storagedevice via a network, for example, the Internet, a local area network, awide area network and/or a wireless network. The network can comprisecopper transmission cables, optical transmission fibers, wirelesstransmission, routers, firewalls, switches, gateway computers and/oredge servers. A network adapter card or network interface in eachcomputing/processing device receives computer readable programinstructions from the network and forwards the computer readable programinstructions for storage in a computer readable storage medium withinthe respective computing/processing device. Computer readable programinstructions for carrying out operations of the present invention can beassembler instructions, instruction-set-architecture (ISA) instructions,machine instructions, machine dependent instructions, microcode,firmware instructions, state-setting data, configuration data forintegrated circuitry, or either source code or object code written inany combination of one or more programming languages, including anobject oriented programming language such as Smalltalk, C++, or thelike, and procedural programming languages, such as the “C” programminglanguage or similar programming languages. The computer readable programinstructions can execute entirely on the user's computer, partly on theuser's computer, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the user'scomputer and partly on a remote computer or entirely on the remotecomputer or server. In the latter scenario, the remote computer can beconnected to the user's computer through any type of network, includinga local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or theconnection can be made to an external computer (for example, through theInternet using an Internet Service Provider). In some embodiments,electronic circuitry including, for example, programmable logiccircuitry, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA), or programmable logicarrays (PLA) can execute the computer readable program instructions byutilizing state information of the computer readable programinstructions to personalize the electronic circuitry, in order toperform aspects of the present invention.

Aspects of the present invention are described herein with reference toflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus(systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of theinvention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in theflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented bycomputer readable program instructions. These computer readable programinstructions can be provided to a processor of a general purposecomputer, special purpose computer, or other programmable dataprocessing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions,which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmabledata processing apparatus, create means for implementing thefunctions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block orblocks. These computer readable program instructions can also be storedin a computer readable storage medium that can direct a computer, aprogrammable data processing apparatus, and/or other devices to functionin a particular manner, such that the computer readable storage mediumhaving instructions stored therein comprises an article of manufactureincluding instructions which implement aspects of the function/actspecified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. Thecomputer readable program instructions can also be loaded onto acomputer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other deviceto cause a series of operational acts to be performed on the computer,other programmable apparatus or other device to produce acomputer-implemented process, such that the instructions which executeon the computer, other programmable apparatus, or other device implementthe functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram blockor blocks.

The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate thearchitecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementationsof systems, methods, and computer program products according to variousembodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in theflowchart or block diagrams can represent a module, segment, or portionof instructions, which comprises one or more executable instructions forimplementing the specified logical function(s). In some alternativeimplementations, the functions noted in the blocks can occur out of theorder noted in the Figures. For example, two blocks shown in successioncan, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks cansometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon thefunctionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of theblock diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocksin the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implementedby special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specifiedfunctions or acts or carry out combinations of special purpose hardwareand computer instructions.

While the subject matter has been described above in the general contextof computer-executable instructions of a computer program product thatruns on a computer and/or computers, those skilled in the art willrecognize that this disclosure also can or can be implemented incombination with other program modules. Generally, program modulesinclude routines, programs, components, data structures, etc. thatperform particular tasks and/or implement particular abstract datatypes. Moreover, those skilled in the art will appreciate that theinventive computer-implemented methods can be practiced with othercomputer system configurations, including single-processor ormultiprocessor computer systems, mini-computing devices, mainframecomputers, as well as computers, hand-held computing devices (e.g., PDA,phone), microprocessor-based or programmable consumer or industrialelectronics, and the like. The illustrated aspects can also be practicedin distributed computing environments in which tasks are performed byremote processing devices that are linked through a communicationsnetwork. However, some, if not all aspects of this disclosure can bepracticed on stand-alone computers. In a distributed computingenvironment, program modules can be located in both local and remotememory storage devices.

As used in this application, the terms “component,” “system,”“platform,” “interface,” and the like, can refer to and/or can include acomputer-related entity or an entity related to an operational machinewith one or more specific functionalities. The entities disclosed hereincan be either hardware, a combination of hardware and software,software, or software in execution. For example, a component can be, butis not limited to being, a process running on a processor, a processor,an object, an executable, a thread of execution, a program, and/or acomputer. By way of illustration, both an application running on aserver and the server can be a component. One or more components canreside within a process and/or thread of execution and a component canbe localized on one computer and/or distributed between two or morecomputers. In another example, respective components can execute fromvarious computer readable media having various data structures storedthereon. The components can communicate via local and/or remoteprocesses such as in accordance with a signal having one or more datapackets (e.g., data from one component interacting with anothercomponent in a local system, distributed system, and/or across a networksuch as the Internet with other systems via the signal). As anotherexample, a component can be an apparatus with specific functionalityprovided by mechanical parts operated by electric or electroniccircuitry, which is operated by a software or firmware applicationexecuted by a processor. In such a case, the processor can be internalor external to the apparatus and can execute at least a part of thesoftware or firmware application. As yet another example, a componentcan be an apparatus that provides specific functionality throughelectronic components without mechanical parts, wherein the electroniccomponents can include a processor or other means to execute software orfirmware that confers at least in part the functionality of theelectronic components. In an aspect, a component can emulate anelectronic component via a virtual machine, e.g., within a cloudcomputing system.

In addition, the term “or” is intended to mean an inclusive “or” ratherthan an exclusive “or.” That is, unless specified otherwise, or clearfrom context, “X employs A or B” is intended to mean any of the naturalinclusive permutations. That is, if X employs A; X employs B; or Xemploys both A and B, then “X employs A or B” is satisfied under any ofthe foregoing instances. Moreover, articles “a” and “an” as used in thesubject specification and annexed drawings should generally be construedto mean “one or more” unless specified otherwise or clear from contextto be directed to a singular form. As used herein, the terms “example”and/or “exemplary” are utilized to mean serving as an example, instance,or illustration. For the avoidance of doubt, the subject matterdisclosed herein is not limited by such examples. In addition, anyaspect or design described herein as an “example” and/or “exemplary” isnot necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over otheraspects or designs, nor is it meant to preclude equivalent exemplarystructures and techniques known to those of ordinary skill in the art.

As it is employed in the subject specification, the term “processor” canrefer to substantially any computing processing unit or devicecomprising, but not limited to, single-core processors;single-processors with software multithread execution capability;multi-core processors; multi-core processors with software multithreadexecution capability; multi-core processors with hardware multithreadtechnology; parallel platforms; and parallel platforms with distributedshared memory. Additionally, a processor can refer to an integratedcircuit, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a digitalsignal processor (DSP), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), aprogrammable logic controller (PLC), a complex programmable logic device(CPLD), a discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardwarecomponents, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functionsdescribed herein. Further, processors can exploit nano-scalearchitectures such as, but not limited to, molecular and quantum-dotbased transistors, switches and gates, in order to optimize space usageor enhance performance of user equipment. A processor can also beimplemented as a combination of computing processing units. In thisdisclosure, terms such as “store,” “storage,” “data store,” “datastorage,” “database,” and substantially any other information storagecomponent relevant to operation and functionality of a component areutilized to refer to “memory components,” entities embodied in a“memory,” or components comprising a memory. It is to be appreciatedthat memory and/or memory components described herein can be eithervolatile memory or nonvolatile memory, or can include both volatile andnonvolatile memory. By way of illustration, and not limitation,nonvolatile memory can include read only memory (ROM), programmable ROM(PROM), electrically programmable ROM (EPROM), electrically erasable ROM(EEPROM), flash memory, or nonvolatile random access memory (RAM) (e.g.,ferroelectric RAM (FeRAM). Volatile memory can include RAM, which canact as external cache memory, for example. By way of illustration andnot limitation, RAM is available in many forms such as synchronous RAM(SRAM), dynamic RAM (DRAM), synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), double data rateSDRAM (DDR SDRAM), enhanced SDRAM (ESDRAM), Synchlink DRAM (SLDRAM),direct Rambus RAM (DRRAM), direct Rambus dynamic RAM (DRDRAM), andRambus dynamic RAM (RDRAM). Additionally, the disclosed memorycomponents of systems or computer-implemented methods herein areintended to include, without being limited to including, these and anyother suitable types of memory.

What has been described above include mere examples of systems andcomputer-implemented methods. It is, of course, not possible to describeevery conceivable combination of components or computer-implementedmethods for purposes of describing this disclosure, but one of ordinaryskill in the art can recognize that many further combinations andpermutations of this disclosure are possible. Furthermore, to the extentthat the terms “includes,” “has,” “possesses,” and the like are used inthe detailed description, claims, appendices and drawings such terms areintended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as“comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in aclaim.

The descriptions of the various embodiments have been presented forpurposes of illustration, but are not intended to be exhaustive orlimited to the embodiments disclosed. Many modifications and variationswill be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departingfrom the scope and spirit of the described embodiments. The terminologyused herein was chosen to best explain the principles of theembodiments, the practical application or technical improvement overtechnologies found in the marketplace, or to enable others of ordinaryskill in the art to understand the embodiments disclosed herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A chip surface base device structure, comprising:a substrate that is physically coupled with a first superconductinglayer; and a vertical Josephson junction located in an etched region ofthe substrate, the vertical Josephson junction comprising the firstsuperconducting layer, a tunnel barrier layer, and a top superconductinglayer, wherein the vertical Josephson junction comprises a thirdsuperconducting layer that is deposited above the tunnel barrier layer.2. The chip surface base device structure of claim 1, furthercomprising: a via in the etched region of the substrate.
 3. The chipsurface base device structure of claim 1, wherein the tunnel barrierlayer is located on at least one of the first superconducting layer, ora second superconducting layer that is physically coupled with the firstsuperconducting layer.
 4. The chip surface base device structure ofclaim 1, wherein the first superconducting layer comprises a firstelectrode of the vertical Josephson junction, and the topsuperconducting layer located on an opposite side of the tunnel barrierlayer from the first superconducting layer comprises a top electrode ofthe vertical Josephson junction.
 5. The chip surface base devicestructure of claim 1, wherein the vertical Josephson junction comprisesa first electrode comprising the first superconducting layer or a secondsuperconducting layer, and a second electrode comprising the topsuperconducting layer.
 6. The chip surface base device structure ofclaim 1, wherein the third superconducting layer is deposited above thefirst superconducting layer and the tunnel barrier layer or above asecond superconducting layer and the tunnel barrier layer.
 7. A method,comprising: physically coupling a substrate with a first superconductinglayer; etching the substrate; forming a vertical Josephson junction inthe etching of the substrate, the vertical Josephson junction comprisingthe first superconducting layer, a tunnel barrier layer, and a topsuperconducting layer, wherein the forming the vertical Josephsonjunction comprises: depositing a second superconducting layer betweenthe first superconducting layer and the tunnel barrier layer, whereinportions of the second superconducting layer are separated by a gap. 8.The method of claim 7, wherein the forming the vertical Josephsonjunction further comprises: depositing the tunnel barrier layer byperforming the process within a group consisting of sputtering,evaporating, atomic layer deposition, growth, chemical modification, andoxidation.
 9. The method of claim 7, wherein a height of the secondsuperconducting layer is shorter than a second height of the etching ofthe substrate, wherein the second height comprises an initial height ofthe etching of the substrate upon forming the etching.
 10. The method ofclaim 7, wherein the forming the vertical Josephson junction furthercomprises: depositing a third superconducting layer on the tunnelbarrier layer.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the secondsuperconducting layer and the third superconducting layer are of adifferent type.
 12. The method of claim 10, wherein the forming thevertical Josephson junction further comprises: performingchemical-mechanical planarization to remove a portion of the thirdsuperconducting layer.
 13. The method of claim 7, further comprising:forming a via employing a mask and a reactive ion etch; and forming thevertical Josephson junction within the via.
 14. A chip surface basedevice structure, comprising: a substrate adjacent to a firstsuperconducting layer; and a vertical Josephson junction located in anetched region of the substrate, the vertical Josephson junctioncomprising the first superconducting layer, a tunnel barrier layer, anda top superconducting layer, wherein the vertical Josephson junctioncomprises a third superconducting layer that is deposited above thetunnel barrier layer.
 15. The chip surface base device structure ofclaim 14, wherein the tunnel barrier layer is formed on the firstsuperconducting layer.
 16. The chip surface base device structure ofclaim 14, wherein the vertical Josephson junction comprises a secondsuperconducting layer that is located above the first superconductinglayer and below the tunnel barrier layer.
 17. The chip surface basedevice structure of claim 16, wherein the first superconducting layerand the second superconducting layer comprise an electrode of thevertical Josephson junction.
 18. The chip surface base device structureof claim 14, wherein the vertical Josephson junction comprises a firstelectrode comprising the first superconducting layer or a secondsuperconducting layer, and a second electrode comprising the topsuperconducting layer.
 19. The chip surface base device structure ofclaim 14, wherein the vertical Josephson junction comprises a firstelectrode comprising the first superconducting layer or a secondsuperconducting layer, and a second electrode comprising the topsuperconducting layer.
 20. The chip surface base device structure ofclaim 14, wherein the third superconducting layer is deposited above thefirst superconducting layer and the tunnel barrier layer or above asecond superconducting layer and the tunnel barrier layer.